Differential circuit

ABSTRACT

A differential circuit, such as a comparator circuit or an operational amplifier circuit, including an output-error preventing circuit having an npn transistor and a constant voltage source. The output of the differential circuit is kept at the correct value corresponding to the difference of two inputs of the differential circuit, even if one of the two inputs becomes negative.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a differential circuit for producing an output in response to the difference between two inputs and, especially, to a differential circuit in which the output error of the circuit, occurring when one of the two inputs falls below the lower limit of the ordinary operation range, can be prevented.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Generally, a differential circuit, such as a comparator or an operational amplifier, which produces an output in response to the difference of two inputs, is designed so as to operate normally only when the variation of the input signals remains between voltage supply level and the ground level. For example, if the voltage supply V_(CC) is +5 V, a comparison is made of the two inputs in the range between 0 V and +5 V, i.e., the positive voltage range. Conventional comparator circuits, however, cannot operate normally when an input becomes negative due to noise etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a differential circuit in which the output of the circuit can be kept at the correct value corresponding to the results of the comparison between the two inputs, even if one of the two inputs becomes negative.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a differential circuit in which the level of an input can be clamped so as to prevent damage to the internal circuit when a negative voltage is applied to that input.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a differential circuit including a differential stage having first and second transistors for respectively receiving first and second inputs. The differential stage compares the potentials of the first and second inputs to provide an output corresponding to a state of the second transistor. A control stage is provided, having a control transistor, the control transistor being driven by the output of the differential stage. An output stage connected to the control transistor and having an output transistor which has a base current controlled by the control transistor. Also included in the differential circuit is an error-output preventing means having an error-output preventing transistor, the error-output preventing transistor becoming on when the potential of the second input becomes lower than a predetermined value, so as to keep the output transistor at a correct state corresponding to the relation of the potentials of the first and second inputs even if the potential of the second input becomes lower than the predetermined value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art differential circuit;

FIG. 2 is a graph of the characteristics of the circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a second prior art differential circuit;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a differential circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are circuit diagrams of two constant voltage sources which can be used as V_(B) in the circuit of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a differential circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments in comparison with the prior art.

A prior art differential circuit is illustrated in FIG. 1. The differential circuit of FIG. 1 is a comparator circuit comprising transistors Q₁ through Q₈ and constant current sources I₁ and I₂. The transistors Q₁ through Q₆ form a differential stage. The transistor Q₇ is a control transistor driven by the output of the differential stage, and the transistor Q₈ is an output transistor of the open collector type, the base current of which is controlled by the transistor Q₇. A resistor R_(L) is a load connected between a voltage supply V_(CC) and an output V_(OUT). In the comparator circuit of FIG. 1, two inputs V_(IN+) and V_(IN-) are compared to detect which is higher. The output V_(OUT) is produced in response to the result of the comparison.

For example, assume that one input V_(IN+) is fixed at a constant positive value V_(IN) and that the other input V_(IN-) is changed between the voltage supply V_(CC) and ground GND. In such a case, the output V_(OUT) is changed as shown in FIG. 2. When V_(IN-) >V_(IN+), the transistors Q₁ and Q₂ are on and the transistors Q₃ and Q₄ are off, because the transistors Q₁ through Q₄ are pnp type. Thus the constant current I₁ flows through the transistor Q₂, and the transistors Q₅ and Q₆ become on. Since the output of the differential stage is supplied from the collector of the transistor Q₃, no current flows to the base of the transistor Q₇ in the above case. Thus, the transistor Q₇ becomes off. Consequently, the constant current I₂ flows to the base of the transistor Q₈, the transistor Q₈ becomes on, and the output V_(OUT) becomes "L" (low), as shown in FIG. 2.

Conversely, when V_(IN-) <V_(IN+), the transistors Q₃ and Q₄ are on and the transistors Q₁ and Q₂ are off. Thus, the constant current I₁ flows through the transistor Q₃, and the transistors Q₅ and Q₆ become off. Consequently, the current flowing through the transistor Q₃ flows to the base of the transistor Q₇ and makes the transistor Q₇ on. The turning on of the transistor Q₇ stops the current I from flowing to the base of the transistor Q₈, whereupon the transistor Q₈ becomes off and the output V_(OUT) becomes "H" (high).

When the input V_(IN-) becomes negative due to noise or the like, however, there is a problem. When the transistors Q₃ and Q₄ are on, the potential at the emitter of the transistor Q₃, i.e., the node A, becomes V_(IN-) +2 V_(BE) (V_(BE) is the base-emitter voltage). In this case, in order to keep the transistor Q₇ on, the potential at the base of the transistor Q₇, i.e., the node B, must be V_(BE). Accordingly, when the input V_(IN-) becomes negative, the potential difference between the nodes A and B is decreased, resulting in the potential at the node B not being able to be kept at V_(BE) and the transistor Q₃ not being able to be kept on. Thus, when the input V_(IN-) becomes lower than a negative voltage V_(OFF), base current is not supplied to the transistor Q₇ and the transistor Q₇ turns from on to off. Accordingly, the transistor Q₈ turns from off to on, and the output V_(OUT) turns from "H" to "L". Thus, even though V_(IN-) <V_(IN+), the output V_(OUT) becomes "L" when the input V_(IN-) becomes lower than V_(OFF), as shown in FIG. 2. This inversion of the output V_(OUT) is not desirable for circuit operation.

Another prior art differential circuit is shown in FIG. 3. The differential circuit, an operational amplifier circuit, has the same construction as the circuit of FIG. 1, except that its output portion comprises an npn transistor Q₉ and a pnp transistor Q₁₀ connected in series between the voltage supply V_(CC) and the ground GND, and the output V_(OUT) changes linearly between V_(CC) and GND. The operational amplifier circuit of FIG. 3 has the same problem as described above regarding the circuit of FIG. 1.

A differential circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. The differential circuit, a comparator circuit, comprises differential stage transistors Q₁ through Q₆, a control transistor Q₇, an output stage transistor Q₈, and constant current sources I₁ and I₂, just as the circuit of FIG. 1. The comparator circuit further comprises an npn transistor Q₁₁ and a constant voltage source V_(B). The collector of the transistor Q₁₁ is connected to the base of the transistor Q₄ and the emitter of the transistor Q₁₁ is connected to the collector of the transistor Q₇. The constant voltage source V_(B) is connected between the base of the transistor Q₁₁ and ground GND and is set at value of +0.2 V to +0.5 V.

The constant voltage source V_(B) may be constructed as shown in FIGS. 5A or 5B. The circuit of FIG. 5A has diodes D₁ and D₂ as constant voltage elements, a emitter-follower connected transistor Q₀, voltage-divider resistors R₁ and R₂, and resistors R₃ and R₄. The circuit of FIG. 5B has a diode D₁ as a constant voltage element and voltage-divider resistors R₁ and R₂.

In the comparator circuit of FIG. 4, when the input V_(IN-) is in the range between 0 V and +5 V, the transistor Q₁₁ is off. Accordingly, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 4 is exactly the same as the circuit of FIG 1. Thus, the output V_(OUT) becomes "H" when V_(IN-) <V_(IN+), and the output V_(OUT) becomes "L" when V_(IN-) >V_(IN+). When the input V_(IN-) becomes negative, and the input V_(IN+) is a positive value, the transistor Q₁₁ becomes on. In this case, since V_(IN-) <V_(IN+), the transistors Q₁ and Q₂ are off, therefore the transistors Q₅ and Q₆ are off. However, since the input V_(IN-) becomes negative, the transistor Q₃ cannot drive the base current of the transistor Q₇, thus the transistor Q₇ is off, as described with regard to the circuit of FIG. 1. Thus, the constant current I₂ does not flow through the transistor Q₇, but flows through the transistor Q₁₁ to the input V_(IN-). Accordingly, the transistor Q₈ is kept off, and the output V_(OUT) is kept at "H". This "H" is the correct value corresponding to the input condition V_(IN-) <V_(IN+).

As described above, in the comparator circuit of FIG. 4, the output V_(OUT) is kept at the correct value corresponding to the input condition, i.e., whether V_(IN-) <V_(IN+) or V_(IN-) >V_(IN+), even if one input V_(IN-) becomes negative.

A differential circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. The differential circuit, an operational amplifier circuit, comprises differential stage transistors Q₁ through Q₆, a control transistor Q₇, output stage transistors Q₉ and Q₁₀, and constant current sources I₁ and I₂, just as the circuit of FIG. 3. It further comprises an npn transistor Q₁₁, a npn transistor Q₁₂, and constant voltage sources V_(B) and V_(B) '. In the operational amplifier circuit of FIG. 6, the collector of the transistor Q₁₁ is connected to the base of the transistor Q₄, the emitter of the transistor Q₁₁ is connected to the emitter of the transistor Q₁₂, and the collector of the transistor Q₁₂ is connected to the collector of the transistor Q₇. The constant voltage source V_(B) is connected between the base of the transistor Q₁₁ and ground GND, and the constant voltage source V_(B) ' is connected between the base of the transistor Q₁₂ and ground GND. The constant voltage source V_(B) is set to a voltage of +0.2 V through +0.5 V and the constant voltage source V_(B) ' is set to a voltage of about +0.5 V.

In the operational amplifier circuit of FIG. 6, when the input V_(IN-) is in the range between ground GND and the voltage supply V_(CC), the transistors Q₁₁ and Q₁₂ are off. Thus, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 6 is exactly the same as the circuit of FIG. 3. In the operational amplifier circuit of FIG. 6, however, the output V_(OUT) changes linearly between the voltage supply V_(CC) and ground GND, and the voltage of the collector of the transistor Q₇ changes between the voltage supply V_(CC) and ground GND. Thus, if the emitter of the transistor Q₁₁ were connected directly to the collector of the transistor Q₇, the transistor Q₁₁ might break down because of the low breakdown voltage of the reverse biased emitter-base voltage. The transistor Q₁₂ is inserted between the emitter of the transistor Q₁₁ and the collector of the transistor Q₇ in order to prevent the breakdown of the transistor Q₁₁. When the input V_(IN-), i.e., the voltage of the base of the transistor Q₄, becomes negative, even though the transistor Q₇ becomes off, the transistors Q₁₁ and Q₁₂ become on and the current I₂ flows through the transistors Q₁₁ and Q₁₂ to the input V_(IN-). As described above, therefore, output error owing to abnormal input can be prevented.

According to the present invention, there is provided a differential circuit producing an output in response to the difference between two inputs in which output error owing to abnormal input is prevented. Further, in the differential circuit according to the present invention, when a negative voltage is applied to the input V_(IN-), the voltage of the input V_(IN-) can be clamped by the current I₂ flowing through the transistor Q₁₁, so that damage of the internal circuit is prevented. Still further, according to the present invention, when the voltage supply is turned on, the rise of the voltage of the input V_(IN-) is accelerated by the current I₂ flowing through the transistor Q₁₁. 

We claim:
 1. A differential circuit operatively connected to receive first and second input signals having potentials, comprising:a differential stage having first and second transistors for receiving the first and second input signals, respectively, said differential stage comparing the potentials of the first and second input signals to provide an output corresponding to a state of said second transistor; a control stage having a control transistor operatively connected to said differential stage, said control transistor being driven by the output of said differential stage; an output stage including an output transistor operatively connected to said control transistor, said output transistor having a base carrying a base current, the base current of said output transistor being controlled by said control transistor; and error-output preventing means, operatively connected between said differential stage and said control stage, including an error-output preventing transistor, said error-output preventing transistor becoming on when the potential of the second input signal becomes lower than a predetermined value, so as to keep said output transistor at a state corresponding to the relation of the potentials of the first and second input signals even if the potential of the second input signal becomes lower than the predetermined value.
 2. A differential circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said differential circuit is operatively connected to a voltage supply and a constant voltage source, and wherein said output transistor comprises a first npn transistor of the open-collector output type and wherein said error-output preventing transistor comprises a second npn transistor, the collector of said second npn transistor being operatively connected to said second transistor, the emitter of said second npn transistor being operatively connected to the base of said first npn transistor, and said constant voltage source being operatively connected between the base of said error output preventing transistor and the voltage supply.
 3. A differential circuit as defined in claim 1, operatively connectable to a voltage supply, wherein said control transistor has a collector, said output transistor comprises a first npn transistor and said output stage further comprises a first pnp transistor, said first npn and pnp transistors being operatively connected in series between the voltage supply and ground so that the output of said differential circuit is changed linearly, wherein said error-output preventing transistor is a second npn transistor and wherein said error-output preventing means further comprises a third npn transistor and first and second constant voltage sources, the collector of said second npn transistor operatively connected to said second transistor, the emitter of said second npn transistor operatively connected to the emitter of said third npn transistor, the collector of said third npn transistor operatively connected to the collector of said control transistor, said first constant voltage source operatively connected between the base of said second npn transistor and ground, and said second constant voltage source operatively connected between the base of said third npn transistor and ground.
 4. A differential circuit operatively connected to receive first and second input signals having potentials, comprising:first and second transistors forming a differential stage, operatively connected to receive the first and second input signals, respectively, for comparing the potential difference between the first and second input signals and providing an output signal in response to the difference between the first and second input signals; a control transistor, operatively connected to said differential stage, said control transistor being driven by the output signal of said differential stage; an output transistor, operatively connected to said control transistor, said output transistor having a base current, the base current of said output transistor being controlled by said control transistor; and an error-output preventing transistor, operatively connected between said differential stage and said control transistor, for controlling said output transistor in dependence upon the potential difference between the first and second input signals even when the potential of the second input signal becomes lower than a predetermined value. 